Public Schedule February 23 - March 4, 2008

February 23, Governor Lingle will participate in the first day of the National Governors Association meeting.  The focus of this year’s NGA conference is “Securing a Clean Energy Future,” which complements the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s “Energy for Tomorrow” initiative as well as the recent unprecedented “Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative” partnership between Hawai‘i and the U.S. Dept. of Energy to increase the state’s energy independence by using clean, renewable resources to supply 70 percent or more of Hawai‘i’s energy needs by 2030.

February 24, The second day of the National Governors Association meeting will focus on Shaping the Future of National Surface Transportation and domestic energy in a clean energy future. In the evening, Governor Lingle and the nation’s governors will attend a White House dinner hosted by President and Mrs. Bush.

February 25, Governor Lingle and the nation’s governors will meet with President Bush and cabinet members at the White House. Governor Lingle will attend a plenary session on advance energy technologies. In the evening, the nation’s governors will kick off the National Governors Association’s centennial celebration.

February 26, The Governor is scheduled to meet with various officials in Washington to discuss issues of importance to Hawai‘i, including:

• Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and Andy Karsner, assistant secretary of energy efficiency and renewable energy, U.S. Department of Energy, to continue discussions on the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative partnership between Hawai‘i and the Department of Energy.
• Dirk Kempthorne, secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, to discuss purchasing and preserving the Turtle Bay property on Oahu’s North Shore, as well as other efforts to protect and enhance Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural resources.
• Patricia de Stacy Harrison, president and CEO, Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
• Tom Cole, Congressman, Oklahoma.

March 4, Governor Lingle will host a public "talk story" meeting to discuss the community's ideas about a proposal to purchase the 850-acre Turtle Bay property, including five miles of pristine coastline on O`ahu's North Shore